30th Annual Farm Days this weekend

Delbert Jones has had a big get-together at his place, 28100 County Road 809, for the past 29 years. This will be the 30th Farm Days weekend, March 15-17, 2013.

Bette McFarrenbmcfarren@ljtdmail.com

Delbert Jones has had a big get-together at his place, 28100 County Road 809, for the past 29 years. This will be the 30th Farm Days weekend, March 15-17, 2013. "We started it to find out about the old ways from the old folks," said Jones, "and now we are the old folks teaching the younger ones." People start arriving Tuesday evening to start working their young horses and sometimes are able to put them together into bigger teams of four and eight before the week is over.

Farm Days is also a time to practice skills that aren't used much any more, such as forge work and tire shrinking for wagon wheels. "Jay Scott is real handy with a forge," said Jones. "I had no idea he knew blacksmithing the first time he came." Besides wheel shrinking and blacksmithing, there will be Dutch oven cooking. Norma Taylor is coming from Ft. Garland to be head cook. Pat Palmer of the Bent's Fort Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association will bring his Dutch oven, too, and also his friends.

Some people bring wagons to give rides, although you never know until you get there who will be at this year's event. There is no cost other than your own food: "If you want to eat, bring food," said Jones. That will be sandwich fixings for Friday and Saturday lunch, pot luck dishes for Saturday evening at 6 p.m., or something to cook in a Dutch oven. People will show you how to do it. Might be a good idea to bring your own pot.

Here are some of the events: horse-drawn farming, campfire cooking, forge work, horse shoeing, Dutch oven cooking, and Sunday morning 8 a.m. church services at the farm. Jones' biggest delight is to see people lined up to watch the farming down at the end of the field. There are usually people sitting on the porch, too.

Other things to bring with you are items for the pickin' and grinnin' session, such as guitars, banjos, harmonicas, anything for making music. "Don't forget your horses," said Jones. Your folding camp chair might not be a bad idea, either.

What: Farm DaysWhen: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 15,16,17 or as early as Tuesday if you want to work your horsesWhere: 28100 Road 809, North La Junta (road leading to Gun Club north of canal)Why: See what it was really like in frontier days.